I hear this all the time, two sides of the same story. ” ‘Black Belt’ doesn’t mean a thing!” And, on the other hand, “He is a Grand-master of the XYZ system!” To say that the “civilians” don’t understand much of this rank system stuff is an understatement. How could they?“ It’s a cross between a beauty contest and liar’s dice with not a lot of truth in the middle. Continue reading
For all students at the Academy including our new Self Defense group with John Ottenberg, we will be celebrating the Year of the Metal Tiger this Saturday, February 28th, with a number of events. Continue reading
And now for something completely different! Continue reading
Just for your information, here is a partial list of the wide range of information available at the Academy of Martial and Internal Arts…
Friday the 13th welcomed a friendly, “family” gathering of students and teachers at the Academy of Martial Arts, Santa Cruz. “Movie Night” brought students together to share food, stories and a viewing of Shaolin Little Guys, one of Jet Li’s first films. Continue reading
Can you really get anything from the martial arts after the age of 30 or 40 of higher?
You know and I know that I’m going to answer with a resounding, brick-smashing “YES!” to this. What you don’t know is that if I thought you couldn’t get anything from martial practice I’d just as soon yell “NO!” Continue reading
October 4th, 2009. We had a great, tough but great, seminar on the famous Qigong regimen known as the Wu Dang. If you want to read about it here’s the link to our copanion site.
Two traps. There’s a time when looking less competent than you really are can be an advantage. I remember two occasions when I saw this in action. Each occasion involved a champion. Continue reading
Liu Feng Cai, Bagua expert
They call it the mother of martial arts, Kung Fu. Considering its age and the powerful influence it has had on all other martial arts on the planet, this is probably true. On the other hand, as we all know, the designation “mother” isn’t always positive as in “That’s a mother of a problem.”
And Kung Fu IS a problem because, over a period of thousands of years, it has taken on so much more than the average person can even imagine. It’s like the difference between studying math (ugh!) and learning just enough numbers to make change. Continue reading
You’ve probably heard of Qigong by now: an ancient Chinese health practice designed to increase strength, expand Range of Motion, and improve your health through movement and breathing exercises. But what can it do for you?
The Academy of Martial Arts, Santa Cruz’s oldest traditional Chinese movement school, is offering a rare series to answer just this question. In only one afternoon, you can learn a complete routine in a concentrated, non-Sports, non-competitive, environment, taught by mature instructors with decades of experience. Free follow-up sessions and additional classes are available to deepen your experience.
Sept. 20: 1-5, Qigong Essentials
This class will give you everything you need to do Qigong: relaxed breathing, bone-strengthening posture, and revitalizing movement. You will learn the entire Qigong Tripod: Tiao Shen (Regulate the Body); Tiao Qi (Regulate the Qi); Tiao Yi (Regulate the Mind). After this one session, you will be able to practice Qigong the rest of your life.
Oct. 4: 1-5, Wudang Qigong
What did the Taoists monks at the famous Wudang Temple develop centuries ago as a health practice? This simple, modular routine is one of the treasures of Qigong, specializing in calming and regulating the metabolism. Many of the movements concentrate on strengthening specific organs according to Traditional Chinese Medical Principles.
Oct.18: 1-5, Blossoms in the Spring
This form is a jewel. It encompasses the Three Treasures of Chinese Medicine: Jing (essence), Qi (breath) and Shen (spirit) into a simple regimen that is so pleasurable to perform you would NEVER call it exercise! Yet the benefits of its practice will stay with you throughout your day. It is such a lovely and important Qigong routine, that we have just pubished a book on it.
The details:
No experience is required for any of these sessions. Please wear comfortable clothing.
Although pre-registration is not necessary, it would be nice to know you are coming!
$65.00 for each session, however:
10% discount for 2 sessions; 20% discount for the series
20% discount to Acupuncture students and seniors
CEUs available for licensed Practitioners
Academy of Martial Arts
1570 Soquel Dr (across from Dominican hospital)
Santa Cruz 831-475-1429
seminars@reelingsilk.com or www.reelingsilk.com/qigongseminars.htm
Please do not hesitate to call or write with any questions. We generally reply faster through email!
The fine art of CHINESE ASTROLOGY:
YEAR OF THE EARTH OX: January 26, 2009
After being taken for the wildest ride in decades during 2008′s Rat year, who among us isn’t desperate for a little relief? Fortunately, the upcoming Earth Ox year may bring us the energetic change we all crave. The Ox is characterized by stability, endurance, responsibility, and a commitment to hard work over the long run to achieve its goals. Just the prescription to help us find firmer ground and a more stable economy. Continue reading
OUR MANY STYLES The Academy of Martial Arts has an unusually rich curriculum. Not only from the work of its head instructor, Ted Mancuso, but from the efforts of many top teachers who have entered its doors, the AMA has gathered more martial information than most schools in the Western world. Profound and excellent instruction has enriched the mixture from such notables as Adam Hsu, Howard Slatoff, John Ottenberg and the on-going and major contribution from Linda Darrigo. The level of martial arts training is entirely different from what are often children’s classes taught at adult level. Among our many offerings are styles and methods hardly known to even 1% of martial artists in the Western World. These include: Continue reading
Every man and woman travels through the martial arts by himself or herself. The journey is nothing if not personal and often intimate. For Jim Mullen, one of our top teachers, the journey has been a long one and, as you will read, a fascinating one… Continue reading
All astrological systems are symbolic languages for describing the character and nature of a particular time and place. Human beings, full participants in the energetic mix, are individual and unique manifestations of the astrological moment. Chinese astrology shares this fundamental view with other astrological systems. However, it differs in several important ways. Continue reading
The tiger always leave tracks…